Liquid aerator



May 3, 1955' I H. SHAMES ET AL LIQUID AERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 2, 1952 fyi@ M yWfM/w May 3, 1955 H. sHAMEs ETAI- 2,707,624 LIQUID AERATOR Filed April 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ggg/f United States Patent O LIQUID AERATOR Harold Shames, Bronx, and Sidney J. Shames, Kew Gardens Hills, N. Y.

Application April 2, 1952, Serial No. 279,984

9 Claims. (Cl. 261-76) This invention relates to a device for aerating liquids and more particularly to a water aerator.

Heretofore, liquid aerators such as household water faucet aerators have been constructed in such a manner as to spray the water either indiscriminately, or in a direction primarily downstream, axially of the aerator,

Aghnides 2,210,846 and 2,316,832. The screens are for intimately mixing the air with the water prior to the issuing of the aerated fluid from the aerator. In Aghnides if 2,316,832 additional foraminous members are positioned in the water stream upstream of the aspirating chamber.

We have found that the aspirating action which is obtained by means of streams or jets of liquid directed generally downstream, axially of the aerator, can be greatly improved by causing the liquid to be dispersed initially in directions generally transverse to the axis of the aerator. We have also found that-the initial dispersal or splashing of the liquid in directions transverse to the axis of the aerator brings about an improved mixing of the liquid and air without the necessity of employing screens. We have also determined that by incorporating a llow straightening means downstream of our improved liquid-air mixer, we may achieve a very simple and inexpensive commercial aerator of reduced length.

Thus one of the objects of this invention is to provide an aerator for liquids, wherein improved aeration is obtained by dispersing the liquid primarily in directions generally transverse to the axis of the aerator.

Another object of this invention is to provide an aerator for liquids which eliminates the necessity of employing screens and the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide an aerator for liquids which has a mixing chamber in which the liquid is dispersed primarily in directions generally transverse to the axis of the aerator, and with means downstream of said mixing chamber for thereafter straightening the iow of the aerated liquid.

One of the major objections to the type of aerators heretofore developed pertains to the use of screens or perforated plates either upstream or downstream of the aspirating chamber in the aerator. These perforated plates and screens have a tendency to clog up with impurities carried by either the liquid or by the aspirated air. The clogging of the perforated plates and screens results in reduced ow of the liquid and with consequent reduced eiciency of aeration. In severe cases, the aerator is rendered entirely useless by being plugged up by the impurities.

Even in those cases where elforts have been made to eliminate the downstream screens, the problem exists with respect to the upstream screen or perforated plate through which the liquid passes, which upstream plate or screen is for the purpose of providing jets of liquid within the aerating chamber.

Thus, still another object of this invention is to provide an aerator for liquids having liquid restricting orifices formed by mating surfaces of a plurality of separable members, which orifices are maintained clear of impurities, whereby there is no reduction in the quantity of liquid ow which the aerator is adapted to accommodate.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an aerator for liquids wherein foraminous members which are Subject to clogging by impurities are eliminated.

And another object of this invention is to provide an aerator for liquids adapted to be cleaned of flow restricting impurities without disassembling said aerator or removing it from its operative environs.

And a further object of this invention is to provide a self-cleaning aerator for liquids.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

Figure l is a cross section View of one form of our improved aerator showing one form of the means for obtaining improved dispersal and mixing of liquid and air.

Figure 2 is a cross section view taken substantially on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section view of another form of our aerator showing one form of the means for obtaining improved dispersal and mixing of liquid and air, and also showing one form of the means for straightening the tiow of the aerated liquid, and also providing means for the cleaning of the liquid ow restricting orifices.

Figure 4 is a cross section view of another form of our aerator which includes many of the features shown in Figure 3, and also shows a modified construction of the liquid flow controlling members.

Figure 5 is a cross section view of a modilied form of our aerator similar to that shown in Figure 4, and is equipped with means affording self-cleaning of the liquid llow controlling orifices.

Figure 6 is a cross section view taken on line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is another View of the aerator shown in Figure 5, showing one of the liow controlling members in displaced position to afford cleaning of the flow controlling orifices.

Figure 8 is an isometric view of the spring used in the self-cleaning aerator shown in Figures 5-7.

Figure 9 is a cross section view of another modified form of our aerator showing another means for straightening the ow of the aerated liquid.

Figure 10 is a cross section view taken on line 10--10 of Figure 9.

Figure 15 is a cross section view of another modified form of our aerator' wherein the aerator is formed of only two members.

Figure 16 shows a water spout with one of our aerators (the one shown in Figure ll) attached thereto.

Figure 17 is a cross section View of an adaptation of our novel aei'ator to a shower head.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 an aerator generally indicated at 10. This aerator includes a cylindrical barrel 12, the upstream end of which is threaded as at 14 to afford connection of the aerator to the outlet end of a fluid carrying member as Shown in Figure 16. The wall of cylindrical barrel 12 has a plurality of air inlets 16 therethrough. Flow controlling means generally indicated by numeral 18 are positioned within the barrel 12. The ow controlling means includes an annular ring 20 and a plug member 22.

The annular ring 2G has an outstanding flange 2d adapted to seat on shoulder 26 formed in the barrel 12. The annular ring 20 also has an inwardly tapering bore Ztl therethrough. The outer cylindrical wall 29 of the annular ring 20 is spaced concentrically from the inner surface of the cylindrical barrel 12 at the point generally opposite the air inlets 16 as clearly shown in Figure l.

The plug 22 includes a flow control portion 36 and a splash portion or member 32. The flow control portion 3i) has bevel teeth 34 formed therein, adapted to mate with the wall of bore 28 to form orifices or liquid flow passageways 36. The wall of the tapering bore Z8 and the teeth 34 bound passageways which point axially inwardly and in a downstream direction.

The splash member 32 has splash surfaces 38 against which the liquid is directed as it passes through fluid passageways 36. The water impinges against splash surfaces 38 and is reflected generally laterally outwardly, primarily in directions transverse to the axis of the aerator. This splashing takes place in the portion of the chamber generally indicated by numeral 40 and is known as the aeration chamber. ber 40 that the co-mingling of liquid and air, aspirated through air inlet 16, takes place. Thereafter the mixed air and liquid passes out through the lower end of the barrel.

The aerator shown in Figure 3 includes a barrel 42, and flow controlling means including annular ring 44 and central plug 46. The annular ring 44 is similar to annular ring 20 and has a conical bore 48 therethrough. The plug member 46 includes a flow control portion Si?, a splash member 52, and a lower depending stem 54. It is not necessary that the teeth in the llow control member 5t? extend the entire length of the conical bore 4t2- because after the liquid leaves the lower edges of the passageways formed between the teeth and the wail of the bore 48, the liquid is still directed conically inwardly by the lower portion 56 of the sloping wall of bore 48.

The liquid leaving the flow control ring 44 is directed onto the splash surfaces 5S of splash member 52 and is reflected into the aeration chamber 60 wherein the comingling of the splashed liquid and the aspirated air fll takes place.

Thereafter as the flow passes downstream through the aerator it is straightened out by reason of certain structural features shown in Figure 3. This is achieved by rst constricting a portion of the ow passageway downstream of the aeration chamber 60 and then permitting the downstream portion of the ilow passageway to enlarge. To achieve this end, the plug member 46 is provided with a cylindrical portion 62 extending downstream of the lower edge of the splash surface 58 while the inner wall of the surrounding portion of barrel 42 is tapered inwardly over a portion of its axial length as shown at 64. Thereafter, the plug member 46 is reduced in diameter to form the downwardly depending stem 54 which lies concentrically within the barrel 42.

It is within the aeration cham- The cylindrical portion 62 of the center plug 46 and thc inwardly tapering wall 64 of the surrounding portion of the barrel 42 cooperate to provide an annular passageway which, extending downstream from the aeration Lhamber 6i), rst becomes constricted and then later expands. lt is by this simple expedient that straightening of the flow of aerated liquid is obtained as the liquid leaves the aeration chamber 60.

The downwardly depending stem 54 extends below the lower edge of the barrel 42 and is adapted to be manipulated by a persons linger so as to be displaced upwardly to separate the teeth of flow control member 50 from the wall of bore 48. This results in greatly enlarging the passageways between these two members and permits ushing out the impurities which may clog the liquid flow passageways.

In the aerator Shown in Figure 4, many of the features are similar to those shown in Figure 3. However, in the form shown in Figure 4, the central plug 66 is :quipped with cylindrical teeth 68 and the portion 70 of the bore in the annular ring member 72 is also formed cylindrical. Downstream of the portion 70, the portion 74 of the ring is conical and tapers axially inwardly. The teeth 68 of the central plug 66 engage the upper czlge of conical portion 74 of the ring 72, and in that way the plug is prevented from passing downstream through the ring.

ln Figure 4, as in the higher numbered figures dcscribed hereinafter, the downstream edge of the teeth L5 and the conical surface portion 74 of the ring member 72 cooperate to define, in the conical plane that lies perpendicular to said conical surface 74, the minimum cross-section area through which the liquid passes, and, therefore, serves as the metering means for the iiquid. This minimum, or metering, cross-section area through which the liquid passes is less than the upstream cross-section area of the axially extending flow passageways defined between the cylindrical teeth 63 and the cylindrical wall 7u of the annular ring 72, thereby permitting the upstream ends of said axially extending flow passagcways to become partially plugged with dirt or debris without effecting the flow capacity of said metering means.

The inwardly tapered portion 74 of the ring serves to direct the uid onto the splash surfaces of the plug positioned therebelow. The splash surfaces 76 of thc plug are curved convexly and the fluid striking the splash surfaces 76 is directed primarily in directions transverse to the axis of the aerator into the aerating chamber gent crally indicated at 73 where mixing of the splashed liquid and air takes place. Thereafter the mixture of liquid and air in passing downstream through the aerator passes through a constricted passageway formed between the cylindrical portion 8l) of the center plug and the inwardly tapering wall 82 of the aerator barrel in a manner as set forth in the description of Figure 3. The downwardly depending stem S4 of the center plug affords means for unseating the plug 66 from the ring 72 so as to pernit flushing of the liquid passageway/s formed between the teeth 68 and the bore wall 70.

In the aerator shown in Figure 5, the center plug is provided with an upstanding stud 86 with an enlarged head 88 thereon. A spring member 90 having a bifurcated cantilevered arm 92 engaging the under side of head 88 provides means for automatically lifting the plug member away from its seat in the annular ring 72, so that fiushing out of the liquid flow passageways is achieved. The spring is so designed that when a predetermined liquid pressure is imposed on the upstream surfaces of the center plug, then the center plug is seated in the operating position shown in Figure 5, and when the liquid pressure is removed from the center plug. then the center plug is lifted to the position shown in Figure 7. By this simple arrangement, the aerator is self-eleaning because when the flow of liquid is shut down the censurfaces 102 of the center plug 98. The splashed iluid is directed into aeration chamber 104 where aeration takes place. Downstream of the splash surfaces 102, there is positioned a member 106 which has portions thereof bent back upon themselves to form a plurality of radially disposed walls which extend axially within the barrel and divide the ow passageway into a plurality of axially extending segments. The axially extending walls of member 106 serve to straighten the ilow.

The lower edge of barrel 94 is provided with a lip 108 for supporting member 106 in position. The plug member 98 is provided with a downwardly depending stem 110 which extends below the lower edge of the barrel 94 to afford lifting of the center plug 98 from its seated position in annular ring 96 to permit flushing out of the liquid ow passageways.

In the aerator illustrated in Figure 11, there is shown a barrel 112, an annular ring 114, and a center plug 116. The upper portion of center plug 116 is disc-shaped and has teeth 118 formed therein, in the edge of the' discshaped portion, which cooperate with a portion 120 of the bore through annular ring 114 to provide liquid flow passageways. As shown in Figure ll, the center plug 116 also includes a reduced neck portion beneath the discportion, and a ball-shaped member, of greater dimension than said neck portion, at the lower end of said neck portion. An inwardly extending shoulder 122 is formed in annular ring 114 and is adapted to engage the under side of the teeth 118 to form a fairly substantial seat for the plug member 116. The guide surface portion 124 of the ring 114 downstream of the shoulder 122 tapers inwardly and in a downstream direction and serves to direct the iluid passing through the liquid ilow passageways.

The ball-shaped portion of the center plug is provided with splash surfaces 126. The ilow directed by surface 124 impinges against splash surfaces 126 and is reliected therefrom, and entrains air within the aeration chamber 128. Thereafter the flow of aerated liquid passing downstream goes through a passageway which is constricted. I

The constriction in the passageway for the aerated liquid is obtained by positioning a cylindrical portion of the ball-shaped portion of the plug concentrically within a tapered portion 132 of the inner wall of the barrel 112. Thereafter, the diameter of the ball-shaped portion of the plug reduces sharply so as to provide an expansion of the flow passageway downstream of the constriction. In Figure l1, the metering cross-section area through which the liquid flows is Vdefined between the downstream edge of the'teeth 118 and conical surface 124, and the annular space defined between ring 114 and the neck of center plug 116, and surrounding the neck of center plug 116, being of much greater area than said metering cross-section, is never lled with liquid.

The modified form shown in Figure 12 shows the inclusion of an anti-splash screen 134 at the outlet end of the barrel. The anti-splash screen does not operate to effect any aeration, or mixing with air, of the liquid passing therethrough. This screen is retained in position by means of a ring or spring 136 which is retained imposition by friction, and which clamps the screen 134 against a shoulder 138 formed at the downstream end of the barrel.

In the aerator illustrated in Figure 13, there is a barrel (ill annular ring 142 and the upper portion of the center plug 144 are similar in many respects to the annular ring and the corresponding part of the center plug illustrated in Figure 9. The center plug 144 is provided with teeth 146 which cooperate with adjacent surfaces of the annular ring to form ilow passageways, and the annular ring 142 is provided with uid directing surfaces 148 located downstream of said ilow passageways.

The lower portion of the center plug in Figure 13 is ditferent than the lower portions of the center plugs of any of the aerators previously described. The center plug 144 includes an upper umbrella-shaped portion 150 having a convexly curved surface 152 which serves as a splash surface. The liquid directed by the surfaces 148 impinge upon and are reflected from the splash surfaces 152 into the aeratingichamber or region 154 where mixing of the liquid and air takes place. Thereafter, as the aerated liquid passes downstream it passes a constriction formed by the tapering inner surface 156 of the barrel and a lower umbrella-shaped portion 158 formed integral with the center plug. After the aerated liquid passes the constriction in the flow passageway, the ilow passageway enlarges in area as in the other forms hereinbefore described.

The aerator shown in Figure l3 is also equipped with an anti-splash screen 160, of the same general type and function as shown in Figure 12, at the outlet end of the barrel which is secured in position by means of a ring 162 which clamps the screen against a shoulder 164 formed at the outlet end of the barrel. The screen has a central aperture 166 therein through which extends the downwardly depending stem 168 of the center plug 144. The downwardly depending stem extends below the lower end of the aerator barrel and affords means for manipulating the center plug 144 upwardly so as to unseat the teeth 146 from the annular ring 142, thus enlarging the ow passageways formed therebetween, so as to permit flushing out of any impurities which may tend to clog said ilow passageways.

The screen 160 slopes downwardly toward its central portion so that dirt and other impurities that do not pass through the screen fall downhill toward the central aperture 166 through which they may pass.

In the aerator shown in Figure l5, the number of parts are reduced by reason of making the annular ring integral with the barrel of the aerator. The aerator shown in Figure 15 has but two parts-the barrel 170 and the center plug 172. The barrel 170 is a member which is formed with shoulders and tapering surfaces which perform the identical function that the annular ring performed in the aerators previously described. In the particular form shown in Figure 15, the air inlets 174 in the barrel v170 are located somewhat lower than they previously were located and lead directly into the splash chamber 176 wherein the mixing of the liquid and the air takes place. The barrel 170 has tapering surfaces 178 which direct the liquid onto the splash surfaces 180 of the center plug. Downstream of the splash surfaces there is a second umbrella-shaped member 182, formed similar to that shown in Figure 13, and this umbrella cooperates with a tapering inner surface 184 in the barrel for the purpose of providing a constriction in the flow passageway downstream of the mixing chamber 176.

Figure 16 illustrates a typical connection of one of the aerators described herein and above, particularly the one shown in Figure l1, to the outlet of a faucet. Y The liquid passing through the passageways formed between the center plug 116 and the annular ring 114 is directed by tapering surfaces 124 onto the splash surface 126 of the center plug. Aeration takes place in the mixing or splash chamber 128, which aeration is indicated by the turbulence lines shown in the drawing. Thereafter as the aerator lluid passes downstream it passes a constriction in the ilow passageway, hereinabove described, and thereafter the flow is straightened out as indicated in the drawing the downstream end of the barrel 19t) is partially closed l.

off by a flange member 192 and by flow directing member 194 which is attached to the center plug 196 of the aerator. The center plug 196 of the aerator has a downwardly depending stem 19S which is threaded as at 200.

The end tlange 192 is provided with a tapering edge 232; and liow directing member 194 is provided with cooperating bevel teeth 204. T he bevel teeth 264 cooperate with the tapered edges 202 to form shower stream llow passageways therebetween. The tapering of the edge 292 and the bevel teeth 264 provide direction to the aerated stream as it leaves the shower head. The stream is acrated prior to its passing the passageways formed between surface 262 and teeth 204, The ilow directing member 194 is formed separate from the center plug 196 so that the entire arrangement may be assembled. Flow L directing member 194 is threaded to stem w8, and it can be seen that adjustment in the size of the shower stream may be provided by adjusting the axial position of member 194 on stem 19S.

The aerating shower head shown in Figure 17 may be constructed with any of the additional features shown and described in the other modified forms illustrated in this specification. For example, it is very desirable to have a self-cleaning aerating shower head. By simply adding the stud and head thereon to the center plug 196, and by adding the cooperating spring, shown in Figures 5-8, the shower head in Figure l7 may be modified in the same manner as the aerator in Figure 4 was modified to achieve the form shown in Figure 5.

Suitable modifications may be made in the ilow directing member 194 and flange 192 such as increasing the clearance therebetween or by varying the slope 'of the cooperating edges therebetween, to accommodate the axial movement of the center plug in the shower head. lt is also contemplated, as a modification of the structure shown, that the edge of the flange 192 be provided With teeth which cooperate with the cylindrical or conical surface of member 194 to form the shower stream flow passageways therebetween.

The teeth which are formed in the center plug in the i' aerators described hereinabove, which teeth cooperate with adjacent surfaces in the annular ring or barrel to form liquid flow passageways, may be made of different pitch as desired to vary the size of the flow passageways and consequently to vary the liquid flow capacity of the aerator. ln the particular form shown in Figure ll, an additional element,y which may be varied in production as desired, controlling the ow capacity of the aerator is the shoulder 122 which partially blocks the outlet end of the flow passageways while also serving as a seat for the center plug.

Furthermore, by varying the size of the liquid tlow passageways, such as by varying the pitch of the teeth, or their number, or size, or by controlling the size of the supporting shoulder 122, or by variations of any combination of these elements, the aerator can be modified to aerate liquids of various viscosities. This latter feature `is of great importance when using the aerator for aerating machine tool coolants of different viscosity.

lt can be seen that we have provided an aerator for obtaining aeration of the liquid. It will also be seen that by eliminating screens and the like from aerators, the possible clogging of the screens and reduction of flow therethrough is substantially eliminated. It will further be seen that we have provided an aerator which is adapted for easy cleaning thereof without the necessity of dismantling the aerator.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of our device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of our inventiton, and it is our intention to cover by our claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

We claim as our invention:

l. A liquid aerator comprising a barrel having its upstream end adapted for connection to a source of liquid, said barrel having air inlets therein, and means within said barrel for breaking up the ow of liquid and for mixing the liquid with air ingested through said air inlets, whereby the liquid issuing from the downstream end of the barrel has small bubbles disseminated throughout, said means including an annular member positioned in said barrel, a plug member positioned in the central aperture of said annular member, said annular member and plug member having axially extending adjacent cylindrical edges, said edge of the plug member being grooved, said adjacent cylindrical edges of both members cooperating to form flow passageways, a portion of said annular member being positioned downstream of said plug and engaging said plug adjacent its grooved edge, said last mentioned portion of the annular member extending radially inwardly of said grooved edge of the plug and having conical surfaces extending downstream of the downstream ends of said flow passageways for directing the liquid issuing from said .passageways in convergingly directed streams, said grooved edge of the plug and said conical surfaces of the annular member cooperating to provide means for deiining the limiting size of said convergingly directed streams, which convergingly directed streams are smaller in size than the size of said tiow passageways, thus allowing said flow passageways to become partially blocked without affecting the maximum flow of liquid which may pass through said aerator, and a splash member within said barrel downstream of said ow passageways positioned to have said convergingly directed streams impinge thercagainst.

2. A liquid aerator comprising, in combination: a tubular barrel having its upstream end adapted for connection to a supply of liquid under pressure and having lateral air inlets therein; an annular ring in said barrel extending inwardly from the inner wall of said barrel and providing an inner ring surface which includes an upstream cylindrical surface portion, and a flow-directing conical surface portion located downstream of said cylindrical surface portion and being sloped to converge downstream, and the greatest diameter of said conical surface portion being no greater than the diameter of said cylindrical surface portion; and a plug member removably supported in said annular ring comprising a cylindrical liquid-dividing disc and a splash member, said cylindrical liquid-dividing disc having a plurality of axially extending grooves formed in the periphery thereof, the maximum diameter of said cylindrical disc being substantially the same as the diameter of said cylindrical surface portion, so that said ring and grooved disc cooperate to define therebetween a plurality of axially extending iiow passageways, the downstream edge of said liquiddividing disc cooperating with said conical surface portion to define metering means for the liquid, the metering cross-section area of which is less than the upstream cross-section area of said axially extending flow passageways, thereby permitting the upstream ends of the flow passageways to become partially blocked without affecting the ow capacity of said metering means, and said splash member being located downstream of said meterdirected by said converging conical surface portion directed thereagainst to elect break-up of said liquid within said barrel and to cause aeration of said liquid within said barrel with air aspirated thereinto through said air inlets.

3. A liquid aerator comprising, in combination: a tubular barrel having its upstream end adapted for connection to a supply of liquid under pressure and having lateral air inlets therein; an annular ring in said barrel extending inwardly from the inner wall of said barrel and providing an inner ring surface which includes an upstream cylindrical surface portion, and a how-directing conical surface portion located downstream of said cylindrical surface portion and being sloped to converge downstream, and the greatest diameter of said conical surface portion being no greater than the diameter of said cylindrical surface portion; and a plug member removably supported in said annular ring comprising a cylindrical liquid-dividing disc and a splash member, said cylindrical liquid-dividing disc having a plurality of axially extending grooves formed in the periphery thereof, the maximum diameter of said cylindrical disc being substantially the same as the diameter of said cylindrical surface portion, so that said ring and grooved disc cooperate to define therebetween a plurality of axially extending ow passageways, the downstream edge of said liquid-dividing disc cooperating with said conical surface portion to dene metering means for the liquid, the metering crosssection area of which is less than the upstream cross-section area of said axially extending flow passageways, thereby permitting the upstream ends of the flow passageways to become partially blocked without affecting the flow capacity of said metering means, said splash member being located downstream of said metering means and positioned to have the liquid which is directed by said converging conical surface portion directed thereagainst to effect break-up of said liquid within said barrel and to cause aeration of said liquid within said barrel with air aspirated thereinto through said air inlets, and the maximum dimension of said splash member being smaller than the minimum diameter of said conical surface portion.

4. A liquid aerator comprising, in combination: a tubular barrel having its upstream end adapted for connection to a supply of liquid under pressure and having lateral air inlets therein; an annular ring in said barrel extending inwardly from the inner wall of said barrel and providing an inner ring surface which includes an upstream cylindrical surface portion, and a flow-directing conical surface portion located downstream of said cylindrical surface portion and being sloped to converge downstream, and the greatest diameter of said conical surface portion being no greater than the diameter of said cylindrical surface portion; and a plug member removably supported in said annular ring comprising a cylindrical liquid-dividing disc and a splash member, said cylindrical liquid-dividing disc having a plurality of axially extending grooves formed in the periphery thereof, the maximum diameter of said cylindrical disc being substantially the same as the diameter of said cylindrical surface portion, so that said ring and grooved disc cooperate to define therebetween a plurality of axially extending llow passageways, the downstream edge of said liquid-dividing disc cooperating with said conical surface portion to define metering means for the liquid, the metering cross-section area of which is less than the upstream cross-section area of said axially extending flow passageways, thereby permitting the upstream ends of the flow passageways to become partially blocked without affecting the flow capacity of said metering means, said splash member being located downstream of said metering means and positioned to have the liquid which is directed by said converging conical surface portion directed thereagainst to effect break-up of said liquid within said barrel and to cause aeration of said liquid within said barrel with air aspirated thereinto through I0 said air inlets, and a screen positioned across the downstream end of said barrel.

5. A liquid aerator comprising, in combination: a tubular barrel having its upstream end adapted for connection to a supply of liquid under pressure and having lateral air inlets therein; an annular ring in said barrel extending inwardly from the inner wall of said barrel and providing an inner ring surface which includes an upstream cylindrical surface portion, and a flow-directing conical surface portion located downstream of said cylindrical surface portion and being sloped to converge downstream, and the greatest diameter of said conical surface portion being no greater than the diameter of said cylindrical surface portion; and a plug member removably supported in said annular ring comprising a cylindrical liquid-dividing disc and a splash member, said cylindrical liquid-dividing disc having a plurality of axially extending grooves formed in the periphery thereof, the maximum diameter of said cylindrical disc being substantially the same as the diameter of said cylindrical surface portion, so that said ring and grooved disc cooperate to define therebetween a plurality of axially extending ow passageways, the downstream edge of said liquid-dividing disc cooperating with said conical surface portion to define metering means for the liquid, the metering cross-section area of which is less than the upstream cross-section area of said axially extending flow passageways, thereby permitting the upstream ends of the flow passageways to become partially blocked without affecting the flow capacity of said metering means, said splash member being located downstream of said metering means and positioned to have the liquid which is directed by said converging conical surface portion directed thereagainst to elfect break-up of said liquid within said barrel and to cause aeration of said liquid Within said barrel with air aspirated thereinto through said air inlets, said barrel bounding a mixing passageway for said liquid and air which extends downstream from the downstream end of said annular ring, said mixing passageway having .a region of minimum cross-section area spaced downstream l from the downstream end of said annular ring and spaced upstream of the downstream end of said barrel, and the cross-section area of said mixing passageway at the downstream end of the barrel being greater than said minimum cross-section area.

6. A liquid aerator comprising, in combination: a tubular barrel having its upstream end adapted for connection to a supply of liquid under pressure and having lateral air vinlets therein, and a support shoulder formed in the inner wall of said barrel between said upstream end of the barrel and said air inlets; an annular ring removably supported on said shoulder in said barrel and extending inwardly from the inner wall of said barrel and providing an inner ring surface which includes an upstream cylindrical surface portion, and a dow-directing conical surface portion located downstream of said cylindrical surface portion and being sloped to converge downstream, and the greatest diameter of said conical surface portion being no greater than the diameter of said cylindrical surface portion; and a plug member removably supported in said annular ring comprising a cylindrical liquid-dividing disc and a splash member, said cylindrical liquid-dividing disc having a plurality of axially extending grooves formed in the periphery thereof, the maximum diameter of said cylindrical disc being substantially the same as the diameter of said cylindrical surface portion, so that said ring and grooved disc cooperate to define therebetween a plurality of axially extending flow passageways, said conical surface portion being positioned to receive and to turn and direct the ow of liquid issuing from said flow passageways for movement downstream along said conical surface portion, and said splash member being located downstream of said conical surface portion and positioned to have the liquid, which is directed by said converging conical surface portion, directed thereagainst to effect break-up of said liquid within said barrel and to cause areation of said liquid within said barrel with air aspirated thereinto through said air inlets.

7. A liquid aerator comprising, in combination: a tubular barrel having its upstream end adapted for connection to a supply of liquid under pressure and hav ing lateral air inlets therein; an annular ring integral with said barrel extending inwardly from the inner wall of said barrel, said annular ring joining the barrel wall at a point between the upstream end of the barrel and the air inlets, said annular ring providing an inner ring surface which includes an upstream cylindrical surface portion, and a flow-directing conical surface portion located downstream of said cylindrical surface portion and being sloped to converge downstream, and the greatest diameter of said conical surface portion being no greater than the diameter of said cylindrical surface portion, and a plug member removably supported in said annular ring comprising a cylindrical liquid-dividing disc and a splash member, said cylindrical liquid-dividing disc having a plurality of axially extending grooves formed in the periphery thereof, the maximum diameter of said cylindrical disc being substantially the same as the diarneter of said cylindrical surface portion, so that said ring and grooved disc cooperate to define therebetween a plurality of axially extending flow passageways, the downstream edge of said liquid-dividing disc cooperating with said conical surface portion to define metering means for the liquid, the metering cross-section area of which is less than the upstream cross-section area of said axially extending ow passageways, thereby permitting the t1pstream ends of the ow passageways to become partially blocked Without affecting the ow capacity of said metering means, and said splash member being located downstream of said metering means and positioned to have the liquid which is directed by said converging conical surface portion directed thereagainst to effect break-up of said liquid within said barrel and to cause aeration of said liquid within said barrel with air aspirated thereinto through said air inlets.

8. A liquid aerator comprising, in combination: a tubular barrel having its upstream end adapted for connection to a supply of liquid under pressure and having lateral air inlets therein; an annular ring in said barrel extending inwardly from the inner wall of said barrel and providing an inner ring surface which includes an upstream cylindrical surface portion, and a ow-directing conical surface portion located downstream of said cylindrical surface portion and being sloped to converge downstream, and the greatest diameter of said conical surface portion being no greater than the diameter of said cylindrical surface portion; and a plug member rcmovably supported in said annular' ring comprising a cylindrical liquid-dividing disc and a splash member, said cylindrical liquiddi\.'iding disc having a plurality of axially extending grooves formed in the periphery thereof, the maximum diameter of said cylindrical disc being substantially the same as the diameter of said cylindrical surface portion, so that said ring and grooved disc cooperate to define therebetween a plurality of axially extending flow passageways, the downstream edge of said liquid-dividing disc cooperating with said conical surface portion to define metering means for the liquid, the metering cross-section area of which is less than the upstream cross-section area of said axially extending ow Cil passageways, thereby permitting the upstream ends of the ow passageways to become partiaily blocked without affecting the flow capacity of said metering means, said splash member being located downstream of said metering means and positioned to have the liquid which is directed by said converging conical surface portion directed thereagainst to effect break-up of said liquid within said barrel and to cause aeration of said liquid within said barrel with air aspirated thereinto through said air inlets; and a plurality of substantially radially extending members in said barrel downstream of said annular ring and said plug member for straightening the flow of aerated liquid prior to its issuance from the downstream end of said barrel.

9. A liquid areator comprising, in combination: a tubular barrel having its upstream end adapted for connection to a supply of liquid under pressure and having lateral air inlets therein; an annular ring in said barrel extending inwardly from the inner wall of said barrel and providing an inner ring surface which includes an upstream cylindrical surface portion, and a How-directing conical surface portion located downstream of said cylindrical surface portion and being sloped to converge downstream, the greatest diameter of said conical sur face portion being the same size as the diameter of said cylindrical surface portion and the downstream edge of said cylindrical surface portion coinciding with the upstream edge of the conical surface portion; and a plug member removably supported in said annular ring comprising a cylindrical liquid-dividing disc and a splash member, said cylindrical liquid-dividing disc having a pluralty of axially extending grooves formed in the periphery thereof, the maximum diameter of said cylindrical disc being substantially the same as the diameter of said cylindrical surface portion so that said ring and grooved disc cooperate to define therebetween a plurality of axially extending liquid flow passageways, the downstream edge of said liquid-dividing disc engaging said conical surface portion to support said plug member in said annular ring and cooperating with said conical surface portion to define metering means for the liquid, the metering cross-section area of which is less than the upstream cross-section area of said axially extending flow passageways, thereby permitting the upstream ends of the ow passageways to become partially blocked without affecting the ow capacity of said metering means, and said splash member being located downstream of said metering means and positioned to have the liquid which is directed by said converging conical surface portion directed thereagainst to effect break-up of said liquid within said barrel and to cause aeration of said liquid within said barrel with air aspirated thereinto through said air inlets.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,510,396 Goodrie June 6, 1950 2,541,854 Bachli et al. Feb. 13, 1951 2,564,060 Gettins Aug, 14, 1951 2,565,554 Goodrie Aug. 28, 1951 2,570,669 Hannigan Oct. 9, 1951 2,624,559 Hyde Jan. 6, 1953 2,643,104 Holden June 23, 1953 2,657,024 Reinecke Oct. 23, 1953 

